I AM FREAKING OUT

Ugh...I can't stand money stress. It sends me into panic. It ties my stomach into knots. It makes me a very uneasy person.

I have already paid over $200 in co-pays for K's broken leg. I know that I probably have about another $50 to $100 left in addition to an $80 bill I got yesterday. Well today I get a insurance statement in the mail stating that they are not paying for the Orthopaedic Doctor because it's part of my $4000 deductible...WTF? My deductible is $400....not $4000. The only thing that could account for this, is they think K had surgery, because this Doc is a Trauma Surgeon.

I know what you're thinking...well call the insurance company tomorrow and let them know and they'll fix it. I am not at all confident that they will.

About 3 years ago K put her bottom teeth through her lip and needed 5 stitches. This was performed while I held her down in a doctors office. I got bill almost $800 because the doctor's office was also a surgical center and he billed for a surgery. So apparently surgery has a wide range of definitions. I fought this and lost.

You'll recall S's teeth debacle last year where I ended up owing $700 because insurance wouldn't cover baby teeth.

So, I have no confidence at all that this will end reasonably. There is no way I can afford $1200 right now. Especially on an injury that is not healed; one that K keeps complaining of hurting and still causes her to limp most of the day. Right now the 'talk' is sending her to a specialist in the next town over for further work up. I can't even imagine what the bills will amount to if this happens.

How is it that a person with insurance, who works for one of the largest medical facilities in this state, can't afford to treat her daughter for something as simple as a broken leg. So what...should I stop feeding, clothing, providing shelter for this child just so we can get her some pretty simple medical intervention. I hope not.